How can I improve the color/white balance on video calls?
March 29, 2023 6:49 PM Subscribe
In my office, my computer is right next to a window with fluorescent lights above, and the lighting is terrible - I always look ghostly and blown out. What else can I try to fix it?
I have tried two different external webcams and two integrated laptop webcams. I have tried adjusting all the internal webcam settings. I have white balanced. I have tried a ring light. The only time it looks reasonably good/warm is when it is dark outside and I only have internal lighting, either overhead or (better) with the addition of the ring light. Now that the days are getting longer, I am never in the office when it's dark out (yay) but that means I am bright and glowing in all my meetings all day long.
My office is in an old office brick building. There's no place in the office that is not next to the window to put my computer. The northwest-facing window is enormous (at least six feet tall). I can't install anything into the walls, like blinds. I don't really want to put a tension rod and curtain over the entire window and work in a cave. Is there a removable window film or something that would help adjust the color temperature of the daylight coming in that would help me look better on camera?
I have tried two different external webcams and two integrated laptop webcams. I have tried adjusting all the internal webcam settings. I have white balanced. I have tried a ring light. The only time it looks reasonably good/warm is when it is dark outside and I only have internal lighting, either overhead or (better) with the addition of the ring light. Now that the days are getting longer, I am never in the office when it's dark out (yay) but that means I am bright and glowing in all my meetings all day long.
My office is in an old office brick building. There's no place in the office that is not next to the window to put my computer. The northwest-facing window is enormous (at least six feet tall). I can't install anything into the walls, like blinds. I don't really want to put a tension rod and curtain over the entire window and work in a cave. Is there a removable window film or something that would help adjust the color temperature of the daylight coming in that would help me look better on camera?
I don't really want to put a tension rod and curtain over the entire window and work in a cave. Is there a removable window film or something that would help adjust the color temperature of the daylight coming in that would help me look better on camera?
I have a similar problem. I put up a tension rod and hung a super sheer peach colored curtain, so the diffuse light coming in throws warm tones on my skin. I also changed the color temp of the monitor I face for vid calls to a warmer hue - the normal light from the monitor is very blue and paled me out as well.
posted by Silvery Fish at 7:37 PM on March 29, 2023 [4 favorites]
I have a similar problem. I put up a tension rod and hung a super sheer peach colored curtain, so the diffuse light coming in throws warm tones on my skin. I also changed the color temp of the monitor I face for vid calls to a warmer hue - the normal light from the monitor is very blue and paled me out as well.
posted by Silvery Fish at 7:37 PM on March 29, 2023 [4 favorites]
A neutral density.filter will cut the light level going to the camera evenly across the spectrum reducing/eliminating blown out highlights. This can also allow you to place more light in a location and of a quality you choose.
Otherwise yes there are a wide variety of window films in adhesive or static cling versions that you could install to cut daylight coming thru the windows.
The film can also be installed on a sheet of acrylic which could be just propped in the window when needed but taken out when not.
posted by Mitheral at 12:32 AM on March 30, 2023
Otherwise yes there are a wide variety of window films in adhesive or static cling versions that you could install to cut daylight coming thru the windows.
The film can also be installed on a sheet of acrylic which could be just propped in the window when needed but taken out when not.
posted by Mitheral at 12:32 AM on March 30, 2023
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posted by Alterscape at 7:02 PM on March 29, 2023 [2 favorites]